Customer Reviews

Rise of a Hero (The Farsala Trilogy, 2)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I liked RISE OF A HERO even more than FALL OF THE KINGDOM, and that's saying a lot! All three of the young heroes in this book are now struggling to deal with the collapse of their old world and the building of a new one under the conquering Hrum. Soraya, who was my least favorite character in the first book, is finally starting to grow up as she searches for her family and discovers the reality of how the nobles of her class ruled Farsala. Jivan is trying to create a new style of fighting with nobles who are married to the old way, and the old prejudices. And Kavi, who thought the Hrum would be so much better than the old nobility, is discovering they bring a new set of injustices with them. They have a chance to get their country back from the Hrum--but how can they get their fellow countrymen to rise up against the invaders? How can they inspire frightened and beaten people to fight back? They need a hero, and if they can't find one, they'll have to invent one. And since they aren't working together, none of them know they're all dealing with the same problem.

The suspense is wonderful as each of the three heroes plunge from danger to danger, scrambling to escape in one piece. The characters catch you up in their struggles to keep the people they care about--and themselves--alive. The Hrum officers we get to know aren't just simple bad guys, but people who are trying to do their duty by their own country. And the pace keeps you turning the pages. I can't wait to read the next book!

I have a real problem explaining why I like things. It's easy for me to explain, in detail, if I dislike something, but liking it? Not so simple. So let's cover, instead, a short list of "what this book caused me to do".

1. It caused me to miss going to see H2G2 with my sister. Yes, I did NOT see the new Hitchhiker's movie, even though I wanted to.
2. It caused me to put back a lot of books I'd planned to buy my niece. Sorry, Ana, you're not as important as my reading pleasure.
3. It caused me not to get the Diana Wynne Jones book I've been waiting for for years.
4. It caused me to buy a hardcover book without even finishing reading it. I only ever by paperback.
5. It caused my family to spend a few hours thinking I was dead because I didn't call them after missing the movie. I was too busy reading.

Does this give you an idea of how engrossed I was by this book?

I know this isn't a very well-written review, and I apologise. I also suspect that nobody is going to read this review, since those who read the first book in the trilogy are just going to automatically buy the second.

Blew me away. It...Just.....Blew me away. The first book was a bit choppy and could have used a good sequel to help it, but this was far beyond anything I had hoped for. The heroes became extremely believable and had dimensions not seen in more amateur writing. I found myself loving and hating each character numerous times in this book. However, Bell just had to leave me waiting for the third book, wondering if it would live up to my now lofty expectations. That is my only criticism. There is only one.

I read "Fall of a Kingdom" several years ago, and while I did enjoy it, I felt it dragged a bit and didn't really stand out among all the young adult fantasy books available. For this reason, I wasn't sure I would get around to reading the rest of the trilogy. However, once I started "Rise of a Hero" I was immediately sucked back into the story.

Soraya, who started out as a spoiled and stuck-up brat, now learns to empathize more with other people and becomes quite resourceful as she tries to find out where her mother and brother were sent as slaves so that she can rescue them. Jiaan is now assembling a resistance army made up mostly of untrained peasants. Kavi, the character I found most hard to like (in the first book, his personal convictions could be described as "running hot and cold") is now dedicated to holding the Hrum off from fully conquering Farsala through sabotage and other crafty plans. The intertwining plot threads are interesting and the characters have become better developed.

I read the first book (Why was it called "Flame?") and enjoyed it but was not particularly engrossed. I read the second one to find out what happens to the characters, and I was HOOKED!!!

There isn't a dull moment in this book. The characters continue to develop, and a whole nother dimension is added as the reader is slowly introduced to Sorahb and his story. Possibly the most interesting part are the small italicized sections in which the actions of Sorahb are described . . . only these actions are done by the characters! It really leaves you wondering about the real Sorahb. If there a real Sorahb? HA!

As I said, this book didn't drag at all, whereas the other book was a little bit slower. It focuses on one single town, one of the last free places in all of Farsala. All elements of warfare are included in this book, and while I'm not really a violent person (my brother might disagree, but no one asked him), I found the strategies and actions of the characters fascinating.

The only problem is that Book Three isn't here! I've been waiting and waiting, but nothing is coming! I really really hope that there will be a conclusion to this trilogy because I, for one, would be very sad if I don't find out what happens to Farsala.

I really enjoyed book 1 of the Farsala Trilogy, "Fall of a Kingdom" and this, the second book is just as good. I liked the way story is rotated through the three main characters, it keeps things interesting. I still haven't decided if I like Kavi or not. In the beginning he was a traitor to Farsala and then after regretting what he had done, he turns around and becomes one of its greatest allies. I do know the other two main characters definitely don't like him.

Soraya the spoiled princess has to lower herself to do peasant's work but in the process is humbled.

Jiaan her half brother and bastard son to her father, who is looked down upon, finds himself becoming the leader of what is left of Farsala's army.

All three characters go through life changing experiences doing things they never thought they would do, but necessity drives them. They get to see the world from another point of view.

This is the second trilogy written by Hilari Bell that I've read. I read the Sword, Shield and Crown Trilogy which was very good as well. It looks like I will be looking for and reading more of her books.

I thoroughly enjoyed this series. I was skeptical at first, as I'm very picky about what fantasy books I read. After the first 2 chapters of Fall of a Kingdom, I was unsure if I wanted to continue. Once I hit that third chapter, however, and I met the character of Kavi, I was hooked. The characters are extremely well developed, the plot is different from most "good vs. evil" fantasies, and the setting is unique. I've read the books several times over now, and I really enjoy them. These books were a pleasant surprise!

They are conquered. Or so the Hrum think. Jiaan must find a way to fight the Hrum and help his country. In order to do that, he must except a friend, a friend who betrayed him. The Hrum take city to city, Farsala must make its last stand and wait for the reborn- Sorahb. Farsala may be fated to be part of the Hrum forever...

The second book in the trilogy is just awesome as our three characters work against the Hrum to try to hold out the year time limit. This book also goes deep into characterizing who the Hrum are and shows that they really are average people just doing what their told. It also brings twists such as how Kavi likes some of the Hrum even though he is working against them and Soraya working as kitchen servant reflects on how she thinks of people that are rude or mean to her and wonders if her servants thought the same way about her. I am really looking forward to the 3rd and final book.

this one was pretty awesome (like u didnt guess that from the title). i dont usually prefer sequels but this i thought had a lot more action! jiaan trains the army that will try to hold mazad for 1 year, kavi does work for the cause, and soraya goes undercover in the hrum camp to try and rescue her family; taken as hrum slaves. there is much more tension and spy-work; burning hrum camps, etc. don't read this if you haven't read book 1 "fall of a kingdom" (or "flame")-it wont make sense! i eagerly await the next book:)